U.S.M.C. Variant of Israel's Iron Dome Air Defense System Tested

An American prototype air defense system based on Iron Dome produced by Israeli firm Rafael has completed a set of trials, simulating threats the U.S. Marine Corps is expected to face.

The Iron Dome can intercept rockets, mortar shells, unmanned aerial vehicles and cruise missiles. In 2019, Israel sold two Iron Dome batteries to the U.S., which were delivered by January 2021. Since then, the U.S. Army has been working to integrate the system into its air defense array.

The American system — dubbed Marine Corps’ Medium-Range Intercept Capability (MRIC) — combines the Iron Dome’s ground launcher and Tamir interceptor missiles with a U.S.M.C. G/ATOR Radar and CAC2S Battle Management System.

Rafael said the live fire test was conducted at the White Sands Missile Range in New Mexico.

In the first trial, MRIC hit several simultaneously-launched targets, which simulated cruise missiles, from different directions and on different trajectories, Israel’s Defense Ministry said Monday.

“This test has proven the Iron Dome Tamir Interceptor and associated ground components can be integrated quickly and efficiently in any relevant defense architecture and intercept various aerial threats successfully in complex and advanced scenarios,” said the Defense Ministry’s Missile Defense Organization head Moshe Patel.

U.S. troops conducted their first test of the Iron Dome last summer, but without fully integrating it into their systems.

Israel is currently developing a high-powered laser-based air defense system, dubbed Iron Beam, which will work in tandem with the Iron Dome at the bottom of Israel’s multi-tiered air defense array.